Courtyard House: Rebirth of a Shopkeeper in 1937

Xingbao stood to the side, not rushing forward like Guixiang, but instead crossing his arms, carefully examining the bicycle. It was a brand-new 28-inch bicycle, entirely black, with a smooth, shiny finish, without a single scratch or wear, looking exceptionally sharp. Unlike ordinary bicycles, this one had no back seat, presumably because models of this era didn't yet include one. Hanging on the front crossbar was a polished wooden plaque, on which the four large characters "Wireless Telegraph" were neatly printed in ink, the characters strong and powerful. In the center was a postal icon, its lines simple and smooth, and below the icon was the number "22," presumably the bicycle's unique serial number.

Xingbao was secretly surprised. He hadn't expected that a unified postal logo already existed in this era, and its design even bore some resemblance to later ones, demonstrating the importance the country placed on postal communication. He then shifted his gaze to the rear of the bicycle. A GG sticker remained on the rain guard, bearing a line of striking Song typeface: "Tongchang Flying Bear Brand Bicycle, sturdy and reliable, one bicycle is equivalent to several others." Seeing this, a flicker of joy flashed in Xingbao's eyes. He had initially assumed these bicycles were imported, but they turned out to be domestically made. Shanghai had already been occupied by the Japanese; it was truly remarkable that so many bicycles could be transported here at this time!

Just then, the eldest and second eldest brothers, hearing the commotion outside, came out of the bamboo house. Their eyes were instantly drawn to the brand-new bicycle, their gazes lighting up as they quickly walked over. They circled the bicycle again and again, their fingertips lightly brushing against its gleaming surface, their eyes filled with a sense of wonder they had never seen before. After examining it for a moment, the eldest brother, unable to contain his curiosity, smiled and asked, "Brother Qianjin, when did you set off from Yaodu today? How long did it take you to ride all the way to our village?"

Brother Qian casually wiped away the thin layer of sweat from his brow, his tone light and proud as he replied truthfully, "I left a little late today, but luckily it was all downhill from town. The only problem was the speed of the vehicle; it was quite bumpy if you weren't careful. I kept a firm grip on the brakes to maintain a steady speed, and it only took about half an hour. Look at me, I haven't broken a sweat at all! It's even faster than riding in a horse-drawn carriage—so convenient and easy!"

Hearing that it could get from town to village in just half an hour, faster and less strenuous than a horse-drawn carriage, the eldest and second brothers were immediately intrigued, finding the bicycle even more novel and amazing. The eldest brother quickly said with a smile, "Brother Qianjin, you've been learning for so long, you must be very skilled at it. Why don't you ride it and show us, let us see for ourselves?" Guixiang, standing beside him, eagerly chimed in, her little face full of anticipation, "Yes, yes, Brother Qianjin, ride it around and let us see how fast this bicycle can go!"

Qianjin had come all this way to show off his skills, and now, with his older brother and Guixiang praising him, he felt even more proud. He immediately smiled and replied, "No problem! Everyone, make way and I'll show you!" The crowd quickly stepped back, clearing a path for Qianjin. Qianjin walked to the bicycle, firmly gripped the handlebars, placed his left foot on the pedal, and pushed off twice with his right foot. Using the momentum, he swung his right leg and sat steadily on the seat. He gripped the handlebars tightly and began rhythmically pedaling, the bicycle slowly moving forward, the wheels making a smooth rolling sound as they rolled across the ground. Qianjin's movements were graceful and his posture composed, clearly showing that he had practiced a lot in private. However, the slight tension on his face betrayed his inner unease, still harboring some nervousness about demonstrating in public. After riding a lap steadily, he completely relaxed. His tense brows and eyes gradually relaxed, and he became more relaxed and composed. He even turned his head and waved to the crowd of onlookers with a smile. His dashing appearance made Gui Xiang clap and cheer, and Xing Bao couldn't help but shout out his approval.

He circled the empty road twice more, his movements calm and fluid. The gentle rolling of the wheels over the dirt road drew cheers from the children watching. After two laps, he steadily turned the car around, slowly braked, and parked it back in front of the bamboo house, a satisfied smile on his face.

As soon as the bike stopped, the two older brothers' eyes lit up. They rushed over, their faces full of flattery, their tone exceptionally eager. They chattered back and forth, praising Qianjin's skill and his steady riding, relentlessly begging for a chance to try it out. Qianjin, unable to resist their persistent praise, finally relented after agreeing to several "unequal treaties," nodding in agreement to let them take turns learning to ride the bike.

Having received permission, the eldest and second eldest brothers were overjoyed. They quickly stood up obediently and listened attentively as Qianjin explained the proper riding posture, balance techniques, and various precautions. Qianjin patiently reminded them to sit upright, look straight ahead, not stare at the front wheel, maintain a steady pedaling rhythm, and make minor adjustments to the handlebars when the bike wobbled, and to never panic or twist the handlebars.

After the explanation, it was the eldest brother's turn to try it out. He was tall and strong enough to handle the old-fashioned bicycle with ease. Father, my brother Qianjin, and several uncles who had come to watch all stepped forward, standing on either side of the bike, carefully holding the frame and rear to protect this precious bicycle. You see, in these turbulent times, resources were scarce. A Tongchang Flying Bear brand bicycle was worth seven or eight hundred silver dollars—an amount an ordinary farming family might not be able to save in a lifetime. It had been transported from afar, making it incredibly valuable and hard-won. No one dared to be careless, fearing even the slightest bump or damage.

The eldest brother took a deep breath, sat on the seat, gripped the handlebars, and slowly pedaled. It was his first time riding a bike, and he was extremely nervous. His eyes were fixed on the front wheel, his body tense and stiff. The handlebars wobbled from side to side, causing the bike to sway wildly, making for a precarious ride. The people supporting the bike didn't dare let go, staying close to the bike the entire time, using every bit of leverage to maintain balance, and helping the eldest brother move forward slowly. The eldest brother managed to ride several laps, his body tense the entire time, sweating profusely, his back soaked with sweat, before carefully stopping, letting out a long sigh of relief, and quickly handing the bike to his second brother.

The second brother was even younger and shorter, making it impossible for him to sit properly on the seat and pedals. Seeing this, the others had no choice but to work together, carefully stabilizing the bike and helping him to lean to the side, putting his feet through the frame's triangular section, and riding in a half-straddle, half-sitting position. With the help of the others, he slowly rode a small lap, barely managing to get his fill, before obediently stopping and happily stepping aside.

When it was Xingbao and Guixiang's turn, they were too young to ride alone. Qianjin carefully picked them up, first placing Xingbao securely on the front crossbar, then gently helping Guixiang onto the back seat. He held firmly to the bike, slowly pushing it, and steadily led the siblings around the rink. The base's onlookers watched with envy, standing on tiptoe, gazing longingly, and constantly exclaiming in amazement.

Finally, even young Wei Bao benefited. The group carefully lifted the little guy onto the cart and placed him securely in the center of the front crossbar. The little guy was only wearing a thin red bib, revealing his chubby, white arms and legs. As soon as he was settled, he excitedly moved his arms and legs around, his mouth widening into a smile that revealed two newly sprouted baby teeth, his eyes crinkling with laughter. He stretched out his chubby little hands, constantly grabbing at the handlebars, his short legs kicking wildly, his adorable antics making everyone laugh heartily.

After the lively experience, it had taken a while, and it was getting late. Qianjin needed to deliver the letter to the village before noon, so he couldn't afford to be late. He and his older brother agreed that he would come over whenever he had free time to teach him how to ride a bicycle properly and master the skills. Everyone nodded in agreement, reluctantly making way for Qianjin, watching him mount his bicycle, steadily pedal away, the black frame and rolling wheels gradually disappearing into the distance along the main road towards the village entrance.